The Life of a Grass Seed

Grass seeds have a very short life. Once they are harvested, it is only a
few weeks before they die and are converted back into a grass plant.
Grass seeds are very interesting to study, because they are so small and
yet, they can produce large amounts of grass. Not all grasses produce
seeds, but most do at some point in their life cycle.

Size

Grass comes in all shapes and sizes. It can range from just a few
inches in height to several feet tall. There are two main types of
grass, bunch grass and rhizomatous grass. Bunch grass grows by sprouting
tillers, which sprout inside and up from the leaf stem. Rhizomatous
grass (commonly referred to as turf grass) grows by sprouting shoots
which branch out from the original shaft, and form additional rhizomes,
shoots and stolons. Turf grass is usually shorter, and denser; usually
not growing about two feet in height. Bunch grass is taller and sparser;
and can grow over four feet high. Grass seeds themselves are typically
extremely tiny, and often are not lager than 1/8th of an inch long.

Propagation

Since there are so many different types of grass seeds, it can survive in
many different climates and soils. Native grass will grow the fastest
and healthiest in any area. Always choose a grass seed that is native,
or adapted, to your growing region. Usually planting involves sprinkling
the seeds over the ground, then raking a small amount of dirt over the
seeds, or watering the seeds so that they sink into the soil. A
fertilization of a regular 10-10-10 fertilizer in the early spring is
usually enough to keep lawn grass healthy.

Germination

Once seeds are planted into the ground, they usually take about a
month to fully appear. Sprouts may appear as soon as one to two weeks
after planting. Germination occurs by the seeds receiving the right
temperature (usually this is about 60 to 70 degrees). The warmer
temperature signals the seed to sprout.

Growth

It takes three to five years for a patch of grass to become fully
established, and ready to produce large batches of seeds. If the grass
is allowed to grow without cutting, new seeds will appear in the late
summer or early fall. The seeds can then be harvested and planted once
more, or sold.

Seed Production

Grass plants will only bloom if they are allowed to grow to full
height. These blooms then eventually produce the grass seeds that can
form new plants. Grass seeds are harvested about 20 days after the grass
has flowered. These seeds are harvested by swathing and combining or
direct combining. The seeds are allowed to dry before they are planted
into the ground.